According to a report, Alabama A&M has agreed to extend its relationship with Birmingham to participate in the Magic City Classic at Legion Field for the next four years.
After five months of negotiations, Alabama State signed a four-year agreement with the City of Birmingham, which owns Legion Field, and the non-profit organization that is in charge of putting together the event for the Alabama Sports Council (ASC).
A letter written by AAMU General Counsel Rochelle A. Conley to Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin stated the university found a provision “unreasonable” in the agreement that would bar either school from entering into a deal with a third party in regards to the Classic’s location for 90 days after the 2026 game.
Conley, in another letter to Gene Hallman, the CEO of Eventive, who produces the MCC, stated: “At this time, and based upon our current level of understanding, we would feel comfortable moving forward with a two-year rather than four-year term.”
After additional conversations with Mayor’s office, an agreement was later reached.
The agreement with the city will give AAMU a $500,000 payout, a 20% increase from the $400,000 each school received in 2022. A contract with the ASC and Alabama A&M, which has yet to be signed by the school, would pay the university, and Alabama State, an additional $700,000. As reported by AL.com, the $1.2 million would be the highest payout in the history of the Magic City Classic.
Alabama State President Quinton Ross said: “The 2023 Classic will be played at Legion Field, and we’ll be there. When negotiating, the spirit of compromise reigns high. Otherwise, there’s no need for negotiations. The central goal has always been to improve the fiscal position of both universities with the least amount of risk. To do that, everyone had to show good faith and commitment to a long-term contract.
“I strongly believe this (four-year) agreement provides the best opportunity for sustainable growth and benefits for both institutions.”
